Truck side frame for railway cars



Feb. 5, 1935. J. M. ROHLFING TRUCK SIDE FRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2'7, 1951 n lNvENTOR BY E flTTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. J. M. ROHLFING 1,990,095

TRUCK SIDE FRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed April 27', 1951 4 sheets sheet 2 NVENTOR' u Thl hl l w Feb. 5, 1935. J. M. R'OHLFING 1,990,095

TRUCK SIDE FRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed April 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TEJE;

Feb. 5, 1935. J. M. ROHLFING TRUCK SIDE FRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed April 27, 1931 4 s t -s t, 4

INVENTOR Patented Feb. 5, 1935 PATENT v OFFICE Tacos; SIDEHFRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS N n. Rohlfing, Plainfield; N. J. I t A pplication April 27, 1931; seen No. 533,086 i1 oiai s; .(o1.1o5 20s) This invention relates to improvements in car truck side frame construction and more particularly to the supporting member"hereinafter referred to as a sill on whichis mounted springs for supporting truckbolsters between the journal boxes. V An object of the invention is to provide. truck side frames preferably of cast metal in which the sill or spring carrying portion ofthe side frame is of unusual width' and capacity.

Difliculty has been experienced heretoforein' increasing truck side frame capacity due to the limited clearance below the'conventional spring plankor spring seat. f f R I To merely widen the sill without additional reinforcing means would notsolve the problem hence the present invention contemplates a plurality of box girder sections in the sill of the frame which box girder sections mergewith'a H pair of bolster columns, one at each end of the Additionally the invention includes box girder f columnswhich'open into the sill girders. and to accommodate the increased width caused by spacing the parts of the sill the said columns are of increased width at'and near their lower ends (see Fig. 6)

The invention also resides the, method of producing the side frame illustrated in the drawings whereby there is produced a truck side frame comprising interconnected hollow compression and tension members whichinclude continuous passageswhich extend through the bolster columns, hereinafter described; such manner as "to produce a substantially rectangular opening for supportingsprings and bolster of conventional formin which the surrounding elements of the side frame are all of" box girder form and all preferably interconnected as illustrated."

The conventional truck side frame now nuse varies in capacity, very few. relatively, having been designed for cars of a capacity greater than fifty tons. I I

When this capacity is exceeded rearrangement of and increased capacity of bolster supporting springs becomes essentialdue to the limited clearances permitted by established practice. This calls for greaterstrength in the side frames and increased spring supporting area in the sills or spring supporting portions of truck side frames. Difficulties are here encountered due to the increased size and capacity of bolsters and their supporting springs which-must beprovided for in the side frame construction within practically 5 the same space originally occupied by correspond 'adaptedtobe used in casting the side frame.

ingparts of less capacity. This difficulty is overcome-in my construction by the use of a double box section sill or carrying member of a relatively shallow depth, giving to my side frame sufiicient road clearance between the top-of the rail and 5 the bottom'of the side frame. Another object of this invention is to provide a cast steeltruck side frame having its members so arranged that no finswill be cast between the joints of cores in the 'vital' supporting members of theframe.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig.1'is a side elevation, the half section taken on the longitudinal center line of the side frame.

Fig. 2 is a half top plan view.

Fig. 3'is'a half bottom View.

Fig. 4 is an end view.

Fig. 5 is a section through the journal box on line 5-5 Fi '1. V

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the center line at 16-6 Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a'section taken on line 77 Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is the section taken on line 8-8 Fig. Fig. 9 is section on line 99 Fig. 1.

Fig; 10 is section taken on line 10-10 Fig.v Fig. 11 is section taken on line 11.11 Fig. Fig. 12 is section taken on line 12 -12 Fig. Fig. 13 is section taken on line13-13 Fig. Fig.14 isKa side elevational view of a core Fig. 15 is a verticalsectional View of the core the section being takenon line 15,-15 Fig. 14.

Fig. "16 is a sectional view, the section being taken on line 16 16 Fig. 14,,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. 35

Fig.1? is a section on line 17-17 Fig. 14 looking in the opposite direction. I i

Fig. 18 i saview indicating the lower mold section diagrammatically and the bolster frame core positioned therein. 40

.Fig. 19 is a vertical longitudinal section through the mold showing the position of the bolster frame core therein. In this figure the impression made in the green sand by the pattern is shown in dot and dash lines, the sand'being represented within the perimeter shown in dot and dash lines.

Primarily this truck side frame consists of a compression member 1, a tension member 2, columns 3 and 4, journal boxes 5 and 6. Thecompression member 1 is composed of two I-beam' sections 7 and 8, best shown in section Fig. 10' and a box section 9 shown in section at the left hand side of Fig. 1, in elevation at the right hand side and in section in Fig. 6. To the'box "integral with the columns 3 and 4 and are in section 9 are attached brake hanger brackets 10 and 11, best shown in Fig. 12 preferably cast integral therewith. At the extreme right and left end of the compression member 1 are depending brackets 12 and 13, which brackets are composed of two Webs, 15 and 16 with reinforcing beads 17 and 13, for the purpose of strengthening the side walls, 19 and 20 of the journal boxes 5 and 6. On the under side of the compression member are attached columns 3 and 4, each consisting of a tubular relatively box shaped section 21, as best shown in Fig. 8. At the upper end of the columns 3 and 4 and also. attached to the under side of the compression member 1, are located bolster column guides 22 and 23, shown in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 9. Openings 24 and 25 are provided in the face of the bolster columns by projections from the cores which are" required in casting the frame to make the box section project into a center opening 26 of the side frame.

To the under side of the compression member 1 the tension member 2 is united, the tension member at the point of union with the compression member'being of I-beam section as best shown at the right hand side of Fig. l and in section in Fig. 11. The two I-beam sections 27 and 28, are joined at the center by a sill or spring support comprising the two box sections 29 and 30, these twin box sections 29 and 30 are cast open communication with the columns. An opening 31, in the tension member at the center is provided. 7

This opening extends lengthwise of the truck frame for the greater portion of its sill and is closed at each end by the web 31a, as best shown in the bottom view, Figs. 3 and 7, where the bifurcated sill parts 29 and 30 are clearly illustrated as spaced apart thereby providing a sill or spring support of relatively greater width and correspondingly greater strength than is usually found in cast truck side frames.

Joining the inner side of the journal box to the tension member are webs 32 and 33 (Fig. 2)

for the purpose of reinforcing the inner sides of the journal boxes, these webs consisting of an extension of the I-beam flange member 34, and having a greater distance between the lower edge 35, than at the upper edge 36, and sloping outwardly from the center line XX at the lower edge 35. This construction is for the purpose of holding the boxes in perpendicular alinement with the center line YY of the journal boxes. A novel feature of this construction is the combination of I-beam and box sections so formed that a single core only is necessary and this core can be rigidly held in the mold. Furthermore, this core does not make contact with any part of the mold for making the I-beam section of the frame, thus avoiding the fins which are objectionable in the vital members of the frame.

The tension member 2 is entirely supported by the compression member 1, and does not extend over the journal boxes 5 and 6. Due to the duplex box sectional sill separated by the opening 31, I have provided a strong supporting member for springs between widely separated columns 3 and 4; this wide separation of columns providing space for spring clusters of great width.

"The bolster column guides 22 and 23 are cast integral with the inner faces of columns 3 and 4, and being narrower than the full width of the column as shown in Fig. 9, provide columns of greater strength than the ordinary side frame construction. It will also be seen from the construction that the brake hanger brackets are comparatively close to the center line 6-6 of the side frame and that by the use of the tapered columns 3 and 4 does not require the spreading of the brake hanger brackets to a greater distance than in the ordinary construction. I have also provided a very strong brake hanger bracket by using the box section illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

The core used in casting my side frame is illustrated in Figs. 14 to 1'7 inclusive from which it is obvious that the main core 50 is substantially rectangular in outline. Formed with the core or as a part thereof in practice are extensions 51 and52. Insertable in the bifurcation between the core parts 53 and 54 best illustrated in Fig. 15, is an auxiliary core 55 provided with extremities in the form of lateral arms 56 and another extremity or projection in the form of a pendant portion 5'7.

In my improved method of casting my side frame the cores referred to are assembled as shown in Figs. 14-17 inclusive. The cores are reinforced by wires 60 imbedded in the material from which the cores are made thus permitting them to be handled with impunity.

In this position they are arranged to produce in the finished casting a hollow bifurcated sill portion, a pair of hollow bolster columns and a hollow portion of a compression member of a truck frame in which the parts referred to are each of box girder form for a greater or less distance from end to end and all are in open communication each with the other.

To accomplish this I proceed as follows:

The cores being split along the central lines 6l62- are properly positioned in the sand in which the final casting is to be formed with the core extensions 52 supported by green sand and in the final assembly with the auxiliary core in the position ilustrated in Figs 14, 15 and 17. The extensions 56 of the core 55 are adapted to enter the core 50 to create the openings 25 in the columns while the extensions 52 will create the openings 22 in the bolster column guides.

The upper branch of the core 63 will'create the box girder portion 9 of the compression member and the spaced core parts 53 and 54 will create the hollow box girder sill bifurcated and spaced apart as illustrated in Fig. 6 where the box girder elements are numbered 29 and 30. The top cross member 63 of the core 50 which is connected by the vertical portions 66 to the core parts 53 and 54, which vertical portions form the columns of the finished casting.

As will be obvious from Figs. 14 and 17 the auxiliary core 55 will be supported between the parts of the core 50 as best shown in Fig. 15, wherein the extension 57 indicates an extremity of the auxiliary core 55 supported by green sand of the mold.

It is obvious that the extremities 52, 56 and 57 support the core in proper position in the mold. These extremities are surrounded and entirely enclosed by the sand or other surrounding medium except at the sides thereof where they are attached to the cores proper.

The disposition of the core extremities 51, 52, 56 and 57 is such that the cores can be used without the conventional supporting chaplets the use of which frequently results in imperfect castings.

In carrying out my improved method of producing my truck side frame I proceed as follows:

In the pattern core prints are provided for the journal box cores. 5and 6. to form the internal parts of thebox; Core prints will: also be pro:- vided for'cores to formthe openin'gbetweenribs, 17 and 18 core prints will also be provided for cores between tie members 32 and 33., Such-core printsand cores are not unusual and need no fur.- ther description;

In the present arrangement the pattern is pro-- which it is intended. This portion exactly fits the vided with core prints for the core parts which form the box opening in the members 9, 21, 29 :and 30. These core prints create mold impresfitted in certain of these mold impressions as clearly shown in Fig. 18. The auxiliary core 55 has its lateral; arms or extremities-55 fitted in impressions inthe side column members of core 50 and its pendant extremity 5.7;projected between the twin sill members of the main core and fitted'in mold impressions 56a. made by the core prints of the pattern adjacent the sill member opening ,31. frame core is securely locatedinIthe mold by engagement of the extremities 52 and 57 of the core with the green sand of the mold and by engagement of the extremities 56 of the auxiliary core with flat faces and tapered ends of impressions in the side column members of the main core. Not only is the composite core securely located in the mold by this arrangement but the pendant portion 57 of the auxiliary core is held centrally spaced from the twin sill members of the main core allowing for the free flow of molten metal around the sill members.

Members 70 and 71 for the brake hanger brackets 10 and 11 may be a part of the upper main core section as clearly shown in Fig. 16 and are provided with extremities 7111, (see Fig. 15). I

In making the mould for this particular side frame, the pattern is divided into two halves as represented by the line XX on the finished casting shown in Fig. 4, with the brake hanger bracket, 10, considered as being on the lower half of the pattern. This lower half is set on a flat board in a horizontal plane on the axis corresponding to -XX. A drag isset on the flat board surrounding Sand is then packed around this the pattern. half of the pattern. A bottom board is then put on the upper surface of the drag. The flat board previously mentioned and the bottom board are then clamped together temporarily and the flask is rotated so that the bottom board is on the bottom of the drag beneath the lower half of the pattern. The flat board is then removed; the upper half of the pattern is placed on the lower half; parting sand or other material is put on the exposed surface of sand surrounding the lower half of the pattern. A cope is then put on top of the drag, sand is packed around the upper half of the pattern, the cope is then lifted off .and it is usual, in lifting off the cope, to lift the upper half of the pattern with the cope. This is done so that the upper half of the mould will not have to be lifted off of the lower half of the mould as carefully.

The lower half of the pattern is then withdrawn out of the packed sand, leaving in the sand openings which conform with the outside contour of the lower half of the pattern. The upper half of the pattern is then withdrawn from the cope, again leaving an opening in the packed sand conforming to the outside contour of the upper half of the pattern.

As stated certain core prints are added to the By this arrangement the bolster pattern for supporting cores around which metal would flow. I have, in the lower half of the mould, openings left by these core prints. I now take the cores, which have been previously made and generally baked to strengthen them, and place them in thelower half of the mould, each core having a portion corresponding to the core print for on the-sand which forms the outside contour of a the casting in the lower half. If the core is selfsupporting and has no tendency to over-turn these chaplets are not provided.

The ,upper-half, or cope, is then placed on top of the drag after certain gates and runners have been out into the packed sand in the drag and cope, and generally the weight of the cope will tal, chaplets would have to be provided on the top of the cores which would come in contact with the upper outer surface of the casting. These chaplets are generally avoided if it is at all possible, since they are generally a detriment in a casting tending to cause failures at the points where the chaplets are used.

Assembling the core parts as illustrated and described permits the casting of a central portion of a truck side frame in the form of a substantially continuous rectangular frame each side of which is of box girder shape and with one element thereof preferably the spring support or sill bifurcated, though it is obvious that this feature of bifurcation can be carried out throughout the columns if desired or also through the middle portion of the compression member which in service lies vertically above the bolster opening 26.

As there is more room at present for extra width of the columns bifurcation thereat is not now as essential or important as within the zone of the sill hence the latter bifurcation only is illustrated.

It is obvious that any suitable cross section of metal may be adapted for the truck side frame between the columns and the journal boxes though I believe the relatively I-shaped section illustrated possesses the requisite strength both vertically and laterally for all purposes and may be increased in width and depth thereby securing additional strength without inconvenience.

What I claim is:

1. An integrally cast truck side frame comprising three box girder portions connected by tapering columns.

2. In a cast truck side frame, a compression member and a tension member each comprising box girder portions and I-beam end portions and tapered hollow columns connecting said compression and tension members and the lower of said girder portions being twin box formation.

3. In a truck side frame, a compression member comprising I-beam end portions, box girder columns and a twin box girder sill.

4. In a truck side frame, a twin sill of box girder form, tapering columns and a compression member of box girder form.

5. In a truck side sill, a compression member comprising generally I-beam end portions, a middle portion having top web and side flanges. hollow columns slotted in their inner walls and transversely spaced sill portions.

6. In a truck side frame, a compression member comprising I-beam end portions, box girder columns, a box girder sill and journal boxes, said boxes having spaced brackets integral therewith and with said compression member for strengthening the outer walls of said boxes 7. In a truck side frame, a compression member comprising I-beam end portions, box girder columns, a box girder sill and journal boxes, said boxes having spaced brackets and webs integral therewith and with said compression and'tension members respectively, and said brackets and webs being adapted to strengthen the outer and inner walls, respectively, of said journal boxes.

8. In a truck side frame, a central portion comprising box girder portions of compression and tension members and columns, all of connected box girder form, some of said members having portions of I-beam section adjacent to and on eitherside of said central portion, and journal boxes, said boxes having spaced brackets integral therewith and with said compression member for strengthening the outer Walls of said boxes.

9. In a truck side frame, a central portion comprising box girder portions of compression and tension members and columns, all of connected box girder form, some of said members having portions of I-beam sectionadjacent to and on either side of said central portion, and journal boxes, said boxes having spaced brackets and webs integral therewith and with said compression and tension members respectively, and said brackets and webs being adapted to strengthen the outer and inner walls, respectively, of said journal boxes;

10. In a side frame, a compression member and a tension member, the latter having a portion intermediate'its ends formed of transversely spaced box girder sections, and tubular columns connecting the compression and tension members, the box girder sections extending substantially the entire distance between the columns.

11'. A single truck side frame comprising columns, and spring supporting members of box girder section formed integral with and extend ing' between said columns and arranged in transversely spaced relation the full length thereof.

- JOHN M. ROHLFING. 

